Open Forum

Giving a New Jolt to Strategic Triangle Analysis

In 2017, the US response to Sino-Russian relations has again risen to center stage. Donald Trump has sought to tilt US policy toward Russia, while at times warning strongly against China. In contrast, Congress and many alarmed by the way Russia interfered in the US presidential elections have sought to harden policy against it, while in some cases prioritizing more incentives for China to do more to pressure North Korea (as Trump has also suggested intermittently). Meanwhile, close ties between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have grown increasingly undeniable, raising further questions about the impact of US policies on this strategic partnership.